Weekly Music Agenda

WEDNESDAY
>> Grizzly Bear and Feist are both terribly popular and make terribly beautiful and engaging music, even if it's not always terribly exciting stuff. A high-energy event probably isn't in store for the 9:30 Club's crowd, but based on prior experience with both bands, it'll still be an enjoyable one worth going to. And hey, maybe Feist will wear a sparkly jump suit, in which case, screw everything we just said and have fun. The show's sould out, but if you're looking for some Feist-light, head over to the Rock & Roll Hotel for The Heartless Bastards ($12, 8:30 p.m.).

>> If you're looking for a night of "what's not to like" indie pop, pay a visit to the Black Cat for Au Revoir Simone and Voxtrot (pictured). Seriously. Do it. $12, 8 p.m.

>> We're all for anyone who's keeping funk and soul in the modern popular music vocabulary. Joss Stone and Common are doing just that this week at Wolf Trap. Our pals over at Capital Weather say that Wednesday might not be the best night for a lawn seat ($28) under the stars, so tickets inside the Filene Center ($42) might be a better bet.

THURSDAY
>> Sometimes naming trends get a little out of hand. While the early 2000s saw a flood of bands called The (Something)s, apparently in the later part of the decade we can look forward to a glut of Ra Ra (Something)s. Not to be confused with blogger favorites Ra Ra Riot, locals Ra Ra Rasputin describe themselves as "a little post-punk scratchiness here, some folkie moaning there, a little Afro-Cuban funkiness and just the right hint of pop friendliness." Joining them at Wonderland Ballroom are Silver Spring's The Husbands, whose self-loathing URL may hint at their aesthetic. 9 p.m.

>> Cumberland, MD's Page France ride their wave of buzz back into the District. They played a great but under-attended set this spring at the Black Cat, and since then they've put out another strong indie pop release in ...And the Family Telephone. Catch them this time at The Red and The Black. With Chris Garneau and Peel. Doors at 9 p.m. $8.

>> Buzzlife brings Super-DJ and trance/house producer Paul Van Dyk, with his wittily named "In Between Album Tour" (for the upcoming album In Between), to the 9:30 Club. While PVD actually creates from scratch the majority of what he DJs, he also has some stellar remixes under his belt — look out for anything from his remixes of Justin Timberlake to U2 to Underworld's quintessential mid-90s anthem "Born Slippy" to his new original singles such as "White Lies," featuring Jessica Sutta of the Pussycat Dolls. $35 in advance, $40 at the door. 9 p.m.

>> Dominican Republic-born salsa singer Jose Alberto is known as "El Canario" for the ways he sings and improvises. Always a great live act, he’ll be at the Legend Nightclub.

FRIDAY
>> One of my very favorite bands, The French Kicks, are visiting their home town and ours this weekend for a gig at the Rock & Roll Hotel. Stuart Lupton's The Childballads and New York & Boston's Bon Savants share the stage. If you like skilled rock musicians who layer influences from blues to pop in the most delightful of ways, we'll see you Friday night. $13.

>> If you don't want to make the trek to H Street, head to the Black Cat and support local folk rockers Junior League as they headline the Black Cat's main stage for the first time. We visited them a couple months ago at the Rock & Roll Hotel. See for yourself what they bring to the stage this weekend. $10, 9 p.m.

>> DJ Will Eastman & Brian Billman are hosting a very fun dance part at the Black Cat this weekend. Head to the back stage for Oops! I Did It Again and dance to the pop of the early 2000s. Your $6 cover will go towards Project Create DC. 9:30 p.m.

>> Lee "Scratch" Perry allegedly once burned his Jamaican studio down. Championed by the Beastie Boys, this iconoclastic, nutty reggae producer will be leading a group at the State Theater in Falls Church. $20, 9 p.m.

>> Local longtime reggae bands Soldiers of Jah Army and Stryker's Posse join veteran calypso and soca outfit, the Image Band, for a night of free music at 7:30 p.m. at Carter Barron Amphitheatre at 16th & Colorado NW DC.

SATURDAY
>> If you've got $75.75 burning a hole in your pocket, go to every other show on this week's agend, or go see New Edition at DAR.

>> Louisville, KY's VHS or Beta will be treating the Rock & Roll Hotel crowd to some funky punk. Not that of their own making, but from behind the DJ booth. Garutachi hosts another guest DJ night, also featuring Ris Richards and DJ Ca$$idy. Free before 10 p.m., $10 after.

>> Three Stars alum J. Forte and the Secret Pop Band will be holding a clandestine meeting this weekend at Arlington's Galaxy Hut. $5, 9 p.m.

>> Lee Fields is beloved by British cratediggers and American chitlin circuit regulars alike for his catalogue of James Brown-derived funk and earthy soul. He’ll be down at Lamonts, 4400 Livington Road, in Pomonkey, Maryland with locals the Hardway Connection, and Jim Bennett & Lady Mary.

SUNDAY
>> Catch Mary Timony and her band at the Black Cat and round out your weekend. 'Cause come on, who doesn't love Mary Timony?

>> The True Colors Tour just missed Capital Pride Week, but we won't hold it against them. Join the eclectic mix of gay-friendly artists at Merriweather Post Pavillion $41 – $126, 4:30 p.m.

>> AR Rahman, legendary composer of Indian Bollywood movie soundtracks, will be at the Patriot Center courtesy of bollywoodconcerts.com. Expect a big, over-the-top production.

>> It’s time for Arlington’s 12th annual Columbia Pike Blues Festival, featuring ragtime picker Ernie
Hawkins and singer Memphis Gold who go beyond blues stereotypes, and some blues-rock outfits who are content to invoke the beer commercial version of the style.

Graham Hough-Cornwell, Andrew Wiseman, Elizabeth Eckert and Steve Kiviat contributed to this week's agenda. Photos from the bands' web pages.